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QUINCY, IL (June 18) – The Cape Catfish, wrapping up a three-game road trip Sunday night, ran into a hot Quincy Gems pitcher who allowed only one hit over six innings as Cape lost for just the second time this season, falling to the Gems 4-3.

The Gems struck first Sunday night when their first baseman, Cam Suto from Lee University, knocked a two-out single to left in the 1st inning that drove in left fielder Jimmy Koza (Virginia Military Institute) who had drawn a four-pitch walk to start the inning.

Quincy added a pair of runs in the 3rd on back-to-back RBI doubles by Gems shortstop Jack Zebig (Maryville University) and right fielder Nathan VerMaas (Arkansas State).

Meanwhile, Gems starting pitcher Jake Schisler, a freshman at Missouri S&T from Quincy, allowed only two Catfish baserunners – shortstop Justin Carinci (Eastern Kentucky) and catcher Landon Godsey (Belmont) – to reach basereached in the game’s first four innings. Carinci made it to first base in the 1st inning on an error by Gems third baseman Lucas Loos (Oakland University) and Godsey walked to lead off the 2nd but was erased when designated hitter Kolten Poorman from Eastern Illinois University hit into a 1-4-3 double play.

The Catfish broke up Schisler’s no-hit effort in the 5th when Godsey led off with a double into the left field corner. He then advanced to third on Poorman’s fly out to deep center field and scored an unearned run when first baseman Kaden Jeffries (Metropolitan Community College) hit a grounder to Loos who threw home trying to cut Godsey down at the plate. Gems catcher Riley Black (Lee University) couldn’t handle the throw which allowed the run to score.

The Gems regained their three-run lead in the bottom of the 6th when Zebig, a .191 hitter coming into the game, hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot over the right field wall.

Cape pulled to within a run in the top of the 8th when, with two outs, centerfielder Chris Hall (Lincoln Memorial University) singled to left center off Gems reliever Peyton Clampett (John Wood Community College) and the next batter, second baseman Jude Putz (Florida State), hit his first homer of the year beyond the wall in right center field.

But those would be the last Catfish hits of the game as the Gems struck out the side in the ninth to earn the win.

The loss dropped Cape’s record to 14-2 while the Gems improved to 6-12.

Schisler got the win to even his record at 1-1 while Cape starter Breven Yarbro (1-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits while walking three and striking out three over three innings. Gems reliever Jake Syverson earned his first save of the season by striking out Godsey and Poorman, Cape’s final two batters, in the top of the 9th.

The Catfish return to Cape Girardeau’s Capaha Field Monday for a 6:35 p.m. game against the Thrillville Thrillbillies from Marion, Illinois. Tickets can be purchased online through the Catfish website, www.capecatfish.com. Monday night’s game has been designated as one of two “573” nights this season when fans can purchase general admission tickets for $5.73 by using the discount code “573night” when they make their online purchase.

GAME NOTES: With his single in the 8th inning, Catfish center fielder Chris Hall extended his consecutive on-base game streak to 16, during which he has scored at least one run in all but two of those games (in fact, twice he has crossed the plate four times in a game.) Despite only going one-for-four Sunday night, Hall continues to lead all batters in the 17-team Prospect League with a .492 batting average (29 hits in 59 at bats including three doubles and three triples).

Several other Catfish are among the league leaders in batting average including Landon Godsey, fourth in the league with a .439 average; Purdue’s Brody Chrisman who ranks fifth, batting .431; and Justin Carinci who has the seventh-highest batting average, checking in at .400. Chrisman also has the league’s second-highest RBI total after 16 games with 28.